The Delaware State Police have arrested 28-year-old Jesus Palacio-Hernandez for the murder of a family member in Selbyville.
On February 2, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 37000 block of Pinto Drive in Selbyville after a 71-year-old female was found deceased in a ditch behind the property. Upon arrival, troopers learned that following a concerning phone conversation with Palacio-Hernandez, a family member was unable to locate the victim and contacted 9-1-1. While troopers were responding to the scene, family members found the victim in a ditch behind the residence, where she was confirmed deceased by Emergency Medical Services. Through investigative means, Palacio-Hernandez was located in the Selbyville area and taken into custody without incident following a traffic stop.
Due to the nature of the incident, the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assumed the investigation. The preliminary investigation revealed that during the overnight hours, Palacio-Hernandez had an altercation with the victim inside the residence. He physically assaulted the victim and then moved her body to a ditch, where she was later found.
Palacio-Hernandez was taken to Troop 4, where he was charged with Murder First Degree. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $1,000,000 cash bond.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.